Giants' Ward makes most of opportunity

East Rutherford, N.J. — The Giants always felt they had a capable replacement at halfback after Tiki Barber retired. It just wasn't Derrick Ward.

The Associated Press

East Rutherford, N.J. — The Giants always felt they had a capable replacement at halfback after Tiki Barber retired. It just wasn't Derrick Ward.

Given the job after Brandon Jacobs sprained a knee six carries into the opening game, the oft-injured Ward has gained 273 yards on 54 carries, an average of 5.1 yards heading into tomorrow night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The yardage total is the fourth best in the NFC behind Brian Westbrook (291 yards) of Philadelphia, and it is eighth overall in the NFL behind Willie Parker (368) of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"All I needed was the opportunity," Ward said earlier this week. "I knew I could do it."

Among the running backs, Ward was almost an afterthought when the Giants reported to training camp in July.

Jacobs was the heir apparent to Barber, and Reuben Droughns, who was acquired from Cleveland in an off-season trade, was viewed as his backup. Even rookie draft pick Ahmad Bradshaw got more attention.

Ward didn't make an impression until he had a big kickoff return in the preseason opener. Even at the final cut, he seemed to be something of a question mark.

But when Jacobs was hurt on the second series against Dallas, Ward took over and became a two-way threat. Besides his rushing yards, he has caught 14 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.

"I'm not surprised at all," Barber said of Ward. "This guy has ability and surprising speed. The Giants stole him off the Jets' practice squad and that's the right word for it — it was a steal."

Jacobs, who was injured on a freakish leg whip against Dallas, returned to practice this week. There is a chance he might be ready to go against the Eagles.

"I don't mind sharing carries with D. Ward," Jacobs said. "It's just good to have two backs. It's good to have two backs who can both run."

Jacobs, however, believes he should be the starter.

"My job is secure, believe it," he said. "If not, I will be a starter again at some point in my career, whether here or somewhere else."

Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has told Jacobs to be patient, reminding him that most teams use two backs. He noted that even when Barber was carrying the load last season, Jacobs had 96 carries.

"All I tell him is that it is a long season," Gilbride said. "And if anybody has shown that it is a long season it has been Derrick, who has had to suffer through injury-prone seasons. So you just hang in there. You keep the faith and hopefully the chance is going to come back for you."

Ward, who was signed off the Jets' practice squad in 2004, missed the first six games of last season and the final three with a foot injury. He slipped on a wet floor while wearing his cleats and turned his foot.

The previous year, he missed the playoffs with a groin injury.

Even now, Ward is battling a slightly sprained ankle.

"I talked to Tiki the other day and I don't know how he did it for 10 years," said Ward, who finished his college career at Ottawa University in Kansas in 2003. "He didn't know how he did it either, but he told me to take care of my body."

Ward is doing just that. He gets three to four massages a week to ease the aches and pains of playing on Sunday. He also is learning to deal with being the center of attention.